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I do a lot of road races where I end up off the front by myself which is why I was looking at the aero frame. The one thing that I was a little concerned about was its climbing ability as it isn't a terribly stiff frame.

The AR isn't terribly aero. It's what I'd call a last generation aero frame with deep cross-sections. This makes the frame neither light nor stiff nor particularly comfortable. Obviously there is the Cervelo S-Series, but I think you'd be better off with a Scott Foil, Trek Madone, BMC TMR01 or even a Cannondale Super Six Evo due to its relatively small tube sizes. These bikes/frames are both aero and light.

Edit: I didn't see the tie-in with Felt. I still stand by my comments. In terms of Felt I choose an F series bike or an FC frame set.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will look at the F3. I did look at the BMC and Cannondale bikes as my first preference, however with Felt being a sponsor I can get a (mostly) equal bike for 1/3 of the cost. For example the AR4 which is typically $3500 MSRP, I get for $1800.

It may seem strange for a Cervelo engineer to praise a different brand, but the AR series is quite good in the tunnel: almost as aero as our own Cervelo S-series bikes. Far ahead of the so-called "second generation" of aero bikes, most of which just add a touch of aero styling to otherwise STW bikes.

Buy what you like, but if you want speed the AR is a little faster than most of the others you've listed.

The AR isn't terribly aero. It's what I'd call a last generation aero frame with deep cross-sections. This makes the frame neither light nor stiff nor particularly comfortable. Obviously there is the Cervelo S-Series, but I think you'd be better off with a Scott Foil, Trek Madone, BMC TMR01 or even a Cannondale Super Six Evo due to its relatively small tube sizes. These bikes/frames are both aero and light.

Edit: I didn't see the tie-in with Felt. I still stand by my comments. In terms of Felt I choose an F series bike or an FC frame set.

The Super Six Evo isn't even close to an aero bike. Tested worse than a Tarmac SL4 in Cervelo's RCA white paper.

I know it isn't all that aero but it isn't too bad compared to other round-tubed bikes. I included it in the list because it is light and rides well. Something which can rarely be said about true aero frames.

It is as bad if not WORSE than other roundish tube frames in terms of drag. Read the RCA white paper. It does not belong on that list at all in terms of aero. In terms of STW, there are plenty of options...

but I think you'd be better off with a Scott Foil, Trek Madone, BMC TMR01 or even a Cannondale Super Six Evo due to its relatively small tube sizes.

I read that page on Cannondale's website where they tout the aero features of the EVO. First I laughed. Then, I was astounded at the audacity for them to make such ridiculous claims.

They are saying narrow tube shapes make it aero. That's simplifying a bit. My CAAD 3 from 1999 has a 1" steerer. That would make it really aero, right?

Their other claim is that the hourglass narrowing of the top tube allows the knees to be closer together allowing less drag from your body. I don't think you will really modify the natural track of your stroke just because the top tube is narrower.

Everytime I read something about aerodynamics of a bike frame, I want to take my lugged steel bike with its skinny tubes and 1" fork to the A2 wind tunnel in North Carolina and see how it compares. Anybody want to help me rent the wind tunnel for an hour? It's a relatively short drive from Atlanta.

I have a non lugged steel 1" frame and that would get destroyed in the tunnel by an AR4 and S5/Venge. Aero frames are 1 inch wide as well but 3 inches deep. Your 1" tubing is no thinner than that of an aero frame and doesn't have the airfoil shaping

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